Cruise Line Secrets & Deals

Tips

In this article, we will discuss some tips and tricks that are specific to the Norwegian Cruise Line. With these Norwegian Cruise Line tips and tricks, you’ll learn how to save money on your next NCL cruise vacation.

1. Sign Up for the NCL Newsletter

Sign up for the NCL newsletter to make sure that you are notified of special offers. Norwegian sends out frequent emails which include any available discount, bonus or deal available. Norewgian frequently runs “Free at Sea” offers. These offers can included the unlimited beverage package, free Wi-Fi, or even savings on specialty dining. Pairing the free at sea offers with other promotions can lead to huge savings on your cruise.

2. Take Advantage of Norwegian’s Freestyle Cruising

Norwegian’s Freestyle cruising has some perks in that it is not as formal as the standard approach to cruising. Instead of having to be at a restaurant at a particular time, you can go whenever you like. You can check Norwegian’s TVs on the ship to see what time each restaurant is open and how long of a wait time there is at each restaurant. Most of the time you can make a reservation if you know a particular time that you want to eat. This is very helpful if you are in a large group.

3. Bring Your Own Bottle of Wine

Norwegian Cruise Line allows you to bring one 750 ml bottle of wine with you upon boarding your cruise ship. There is a $15 corking fee involved if you bring your own bottle. Just wine is allowed and no other type of alcohol is permitted.

4. Mid-Week Laundry Promos

Sometimes Norwegian runs mid-week laundry promotions. If you packed light for your cruise, this can be a big help. There isn’t always a laundry promo but it’s worth looking out for.

5. Get a Free Commemorative Pin

If you are a Latitudes Rewards member, you can get a free commemorative pin on your cruise. These pins are available by request only so make sure to request one if you are interested in getting one.

6. Free Body Wash and Shampoo

If you don’t require a certain brand of body wash or shampoo, Norwegian supplies free body wash and shampoo in the dispenser of your shower.

7. Embarkation Day Specials

Norwegian generally offers embarkation day specials. These embarkation day specials usually involve a discount at the spa or at the specialty dining restaurants.

8. Make a Reservation Well in Advance Online

If there’s a show or restaurant you really don’t want to miss, make a reservation well in advance online, or you might miss out. Rock of Ages is an awesome full length Broadway show that we would recommend checking out. Make sure to get to the show early if you want good seats.

9. Bring a Large Reusable Cup for Drinking

It is a good idea to bring a large reusable cup for drinking, as the glasses and cups that Norwegian provides you with are very small.

10. Garden Café Seating

The Garden Café has seating and the same food service on both the starboard and port sides. Usually one side is far less crowded than the other. Take a look around before you choose a table or decide wait in line. The Garden Café is usually very crowded for breakfast so it’s worth checking out the other restaurants around breakfast time.

If you have a disability, you know that some vacations can often at times be very stressful and challenging. If you are staying at a hotel, you often have to worry about stairs and accessibility issues. On a cruise you’ll take a lot of the unexpected surprises out of the equation. Once you arrive onboard a cruise ship, you’ll know that your cabin can be reached via an elevator and you can dine in your choice of accessible restaurants each night. These are just some of the great benefits of going on a cruise.

While cabins on a cruise ship are generally much smaller than hotel rooms, most of the major cruise lines offer “accessible” and “modified” staterooms. On a cruise vacation, you will also have a huge variety of entertainment options that can accommodate your needs. These nice conveniences make a cruise ship a great choice for a vacation for travelers with disabilities and other health concerns. In this article, we’ll go over some of the questions that people often wonder about what to expect with accessible cruising.

Do cruise lines accommodate people with developmental or physical disabilities?

Yes, cruise ships accommodate people with developmental and/or physical disabilities however each cruise line and ship will vary. Some cruise ships offer larger cabins with accessible tubs as well as showers with benches. Some cruise lines have audiovisual kits as well. If you let the cruise line know in advance, most cruise lines can offer individual assistance to help fit your needs. It can help to speak with a travel professional who specializes in accessible cruising or to read reviews from cruisers who frequently cruise with disabilities. If you are ever in doubt, make certain to contact your cruise line about any questions that you have when it comes to accessible cruising. River and expedition cruising is not recommended if you have any type of mobility issue. These types of cruises generally lack accommodations and focus on walking as well as active excursions.

Can I bring my wheelchair/mobility device on a cruise? Are they available for rent onboard?

Yes, you are welcome to bring your wheelchair/mobility device on a cruise ship. However, if you are planning on renting, you will need to make prior arrangements with a third party that provides equipment rental services since most cruise lines do not rent mobility devices directly. Companies like Special Needs at Sea provide a wheelchair, scooter and medical equipment rentals directly to your cruise ship. To get a price quote, you can contact Special Needs at Sea at 1-954 585-0575 or 1-800-513-4515.

In the event of an emergency on my cruise, will I have special assistance?

This is something that should be requested before boarding your cruise ship. Some cruise lines, such as small-ship luxury line Regent Seven Seas, appoint 1 staff member to each passenger with a disability to make sure he or she is taken care of in case of an emergency. You don’t have to go on a small cruise ship for such personalized service though. If notified ahead of time, Norwegian Cruise Line, for example, provides Access Officers who are your go-to for any special needs once onboard. To learn more about Norwegian Cruise Line’s accessible cruising accessibility assistance, you can visit https://www.ncl.com/about/accessible-cruising

Will I be able to get assistance to go to the theater, buffet, of another area of the cruise ship?

Yes. The cruise lines train their crew to anticipate the needs of passengers, especially those with mobility or audiovisual issues. Never hesitate to ask a crewmember for assistance in any area of your cruise ship.

Am you eligible for upgrades/guarantees in an accessible cabin?

This is tricky question to answer. Since most accessible cabins are considered a “premium room”, it can be hard to get an upgrade with an accessible cabin. Whether you do or not will most likely depend on your loyalty level with the cruise line. The higher your loyalty tier, the better chance you will have of being upgraded. Because there are so few accessible cabins, these cabins tend to sell out quickly so it is much better to book the exact cabin that will best suite your accessibility needs.

I use a mobility scooter. Can I still book a regular room, or must I get an accessible room?

Accessible cabins are designed with more space for easier movement in your room, along with accessible bathroom facilities so it is generally recommended to book an accessible room. Many of the cabins that are accessible have push-button doors and may be located in areas of the ship that feature wider hallways. There is usually not enough room to park your scooter in a regular cruise ship cabin.

The accessible rooms can vary of each cruise line. For example, on the Holland America Line, a “wheelchair accessible stateroom” has wide entry doors and a roll-in shower with a bench, while a “modified accessible stateroom” offers a shower-only bathroom with low thresholds. Just like hotels, a small amount of rooms are accessible so it is good to book your accessible room on your ship early. When you decide to book your cruise, make sure to check your ship’s deck plans, or speak with a travel professional to help compare your options if you are afraid to book the room by yourself.

Can you go on an excursion if you have a wheelchair?

There are a very limited amount of excursions designed specifically for passengers with wheelchairs. It is a good idea to browse through excursion brochures or use a company that specializes in accessible shore tours. Also, make sure to research the ports that you’ll be visiting. Some ports will be more accessible than others.

Is there a special area in the theater for seating if you have a wheelchair?

Yes most of the cruise ships provide an area for wheelchair users to watch the onboard shows. The Royal Theater on Royal Caribbean ships for example features front and rear areas for wheelchair seating in the theater.

What can you expect if you have a visual or hearing impairment?

If you have a hearing impairment, some ships will offer sign-language interpreters. It is a good idea to notify the cruise line atleast 60 days in advance if you require an interpreter. If you have a visual impairment, most ships have Braille menus as well as large-print menus along with Braille elevator buttons and/or Braille signage. Always make sure to notify your cruise line in advance if you need any type of special assistance.

Are there discounts for passengers traveling with a disabled person?

Not generally. Contact your cruise line to inquire about any discounts for which you may be eligible.

Can I bring my service animal onboard?

Yes you generally can but there is an enormous amount of paperwork involved. If you are traveling with Carnival, they only permit service/working dogs onboard. The dogs are dogs that are legally defined as trained to meet a disability-related need. Most cruise lines do not allow passengers to sail with service dogs in training or companion/therapy dogs.

Can you bring medical equipment onboard? What about bringing an oxygen tank onboard the ship?

Yes you will be able to bring medical equipment onboard however if you require an oxygen tank, you will be responsible for bringing enough oxygen for the duration of your trip. It is a good idea to contact guest services once onboard if you need help storing your oxygen. The company we mentioned earlier, Special Needs at Sea will provide oxygen and medical supplies directly to your cruise ship.

A cruise is, in its true sense, the grandest and the most exhilarating thing that can ever happen in a person’s life. Managing and deciding a maiden cruise trip can be a pretty overwhelming and exhausting task. Cruises are versatile in their own way; after all there is an entire planet to cover under this segment! A traveler may choose either a journey filled with cultural enlightenment and a modern awakening around Europe, or maybe some nights of gambling and partying will do near the Caribbean Islands. However you may be, a perfect cruise ship is waiting for you, its anchor just about to be set loose. It is painfully obvious that you can’t go for dozens of cruises, and planning correctly for your first cruise is vital for sure.

You need to calculate wisely that what your primary interests are. If you are an adventurer, a foodie, or if you like to travel to quiet places, your perfect cruise destination can vary a lot for you. Other major things to be put into consideration are budget, the port of departure, and duration of the cruise.

Most importantly, you need to know where and when to look out for the perfect cruise deal. If you hit the golden jackpot, you might get cruise tickets at a mammoth price difference. People have permanent travel agents that give tips when the time is right, or even scrounging through the internet at the right place could turn out to wondrous.

There are various off the road tips to help you find the best bargain. We present our own bag of tricks to help you find just the right cruise, and you can make the most out of your journey.

A lot of cruise lines sell package deals, and have tie-ups with good hotels, airlines etc. Look out for such packages from companies like Royal Caribbean, Carnival, Norwegian, MSC etc. Wrapping up small expenditures can allow you to save on various overhead costs.

It is highly recommended that you book early, months or sometimes even a year, if you want to choose the best cabins in the cruise. If you are aware of spectacular early bird discounts, you might get a stunning bargain.

If you are a senior citizen, or an ex-military member, you can get spectacular discounts. Almost all sailing agencies offer significant discounts for military personnel, certain government staff, and even teachers.

Just analogous to frequent fliers, you can also avail the frequent cruiser feature to good use. Having cruises with the same cruising line can get you a lot of perks, like complimentary cocktails, and free spa treatments!

If you can rope in more and more of your family and friends to travel with you, you can get major benefits. Booking in bulk can get you a lot of perks. In certain shipping agencies, if you book 10 or 16 berths at once, you can get a free berth, along with loads of other added benefits.

Take help from a travel agent, who can tip you exactly when and where to book for the best deal. They can also monitor pricing and let you know about interesting payback options.

A good thing you can do when you book a cruise is to book a guaranteed stateroom to get the absolute lowest price on whichever cabin type you’re interested in (inside, outside, balcony, or a suite). With a “guaranteed” cabin, you are guaranteed a room within that particular type of stateroom or higher. This can sometimes be a gamble because you don’t get to choose the cabin’s location but it usually pays off.

There’s a small chance you could end up in an undesirable location like the ship’s bow, under a nightclub, or the galley but usually that does not happen. For example, you could book a guaranteed inside cabin and end up with a beautiful balcony stateroom. With a guaranteed stateroom, you’ll always have the absolute lowest price atleast and you’ll have a better chance to be placed on an awesome part of the ship and even a chance to get a free upgrade so we think it’s worth the gamble or booking a guaranteed stateroom.

It’s generally a safe bet to book your cruise as early as possible. Some people book a year in advance even. If you’re the type of person who wants to book in advance to lock in the best price, don’t stop there. Make sure to keep an eye out on the prices throughout the rest of the year. If the price of your cruise changes or a better promotion pops up, then you can change your booking to take advantage of the new pricing or special. So make sure to always keep on eye out of prices and sales throughout the year. If you find a better/cheaper offer than what you have booked, call your booking agent immediately to rebook the better deal.

Unlike airlines, most cruise lines offer free cancelation as long as you do so before the cancelation period which varies by each cruise line and itinerary. Typically the cancelation period for a cruise vacation is a month or two before the sailing date, so you’ll generally be able to book your cruise early and cancel without penalty anytime before then, and be able to book again if you find a lower price.

If you own a smartphone, make sure to check out the Shipmate App which is available for iPhone or Android. This app contains a free cruise fare monitoring service among the app’s many features. With this app, you can also access your Itinerary, Excursions, Deck Maps and more

You’ve booked a cruise and are starting to prepare for your vacation. You’ve done all the hard stuff, booking your room and your flights, perhaps you are coming in the day before and staying the night in the hotel so you can get to the port and get on the ship as early as possible to enjoy all the ship has to offer. But have you done all the research possible? Are there a few tips and tricks to cruising that maybe you don’t know, especially if you are a first time cruiser?

– Pack clothes that are wrinkle resistant! – Seasoned cruisers know that, unlike hotel rooms your cruise stateroom will not have an iron and finding out that dress or shirt you packed needs ironing once you unpack will result in an unexpected charge. Save yourself and pack wrinkle resistant clothing!

– Don’t over pack! – There is only so much room to unpack in your stateroom (which you should do right away, it will make it much easier to move around your room if you unpack your suitcase) and you will find that you won’t need nearly half as much as you think you will!

– Bring a highlighter and magnets! – There is noting worse than looking over the “daily” each evening and making your plans for the following day only to miss the events you wanted to do. By bringing a highlighter and magnet you can mark off the items you want to attend. And the magnets will allow you to hang up those notes on your stateroom door!

– Bring small bills! – There will be times you want to tip those who make your cruise extra enjoyable or who have gone out of their way with extra service – a porter, your room attendant, bartender, waiter. Having small bills allows you to tip these fine folks at the time of their service.

– Check the dining dress code – every cruiseline’s dress code is different and the rules for “formal night” is different. It pays to check the rules around dining room dress codes to help with what you need to pack, especially with airline luggage restrictions! And if you are not interested in formal nights remember you can always head to the buffet or order room service (on your balcony!) those evenings!

– Consider a drink package – while basic drinks like tea, coffee and iced tea and lemonade in the buffet are included in the cost of your cruise; sodas, bottled water and alcoholic drinks are not. Cruiselines offer drink packages that can include both alcoholic drinks and non-alcoholic drinks. Many cruiselines will also allow you to bring on two bottles of wine per cabin (subject to a corkage fee)

– Research your ports and the excursions you are going on. – Depending on your ports and your excursions you may need to make some packing additions to your list. Are you going to be doing some hiking? Remember to pack your hiking boots? Spending a lot of time on the beach? Pack a wide brimmed hat? Going to be visiting churches and temples in Europe? You may need to have your shoulders covered and be wearing longer shorts or dresses, check websites of these attractions for any dress codes to avoid disappointment!

– Attend the free seminars and draws. – On the first day or two of the cruise there will be lots of seminars and draws for various products and services. Attend these! Often there will be discounts given to those who attend and there will be draws for free prizes. Someone must win!

– Art auctions. – The art auctions can be fun and interesting! Not only do you get to learn about great works or art and artists but you will get a free work of art and free champagne!

Most of all, enjoy your first cruise vacation! There is so much to do and explore on each ship and each port you will never be bored!

Most people on a cruise ship choose to dine in the main dining room or eat at the buffet on the first night of their cruise. This is a great chance for you to check out one of the specialty restaurants on the ship.

If you book an alternative dining venue for the first night of the cruise, you may get a discount on select cruise lines (like Celebrity Cruises for instance). Even if you don’t receive a discount, you’ll have an easier time getting a reservation at one of the more popular venues.

Carnival Cruise ship passengers who choose to dine at the steakhouse on the first night get a free bottle of wine with their dinner meal.

Are you looking to plan a cheap cruise? It’s still possible to save big money on most cruises if you plan carefully and choose the right room for your particular budget. Our cheap cruise tips will help you save big!

With rapidly rising fuel costs, the price of going on a cruise has been on the upswing lately, so its more important than ever for anyone on a budget to research cruise fares and find a reasonably priced sailing that won’t break the bank.

Generally, if you are looking to book a specific type of room, you are best off booking your cruise very early in order to ensure that you get the best possible fare. Room categories can sell out — often months before the sail date — and by booking up to a year and a half in advance, you can take advantage of often substantial early booking discounts while still getting that balcony room or suite that your heart is set on.

Of course if you want to save even more money, you need to be more flexible with the type of room you are willing to book. Inside rooms — the rooms in the interior of the ship — are often as much as one third less than balcony rooms or suites. This can represent a tremendous savings for the economy-minded traveler.

On most cruises, there is simply so much to see and do, from shows to pools to dining, that many passengers end up spending very little time in their rooms. Therefore, it is often worth considering booking an inside cabin, since you will still have access to all the same great meals, entertainment, and activities as passengers paying far more than you.

Of course, one drawback to inside rooms is the lack of windows, so if you have issues with claustrophobia, and inside room might not be for you. But there is another great low-cost option on many ships that can cost little more than inside rooms. This second option is an obstructed view outside cabin.

The views in these cabins tend to be obstructed by lifeboats, poles, or other elements of the ship’s design. While the view might be partially or even full obstructed, you still have a window and thus usually will get some sunlight at the very least. Therefore, obstructed view rooms can be a great option for anyone who really needs a window in their cabin yet who still wants to save some serious cash.

Taking the suggestions of well-traveled cruisers is the best thing for very first time cruise passengers to do. Why not learn from someone else’s mishaps or mistakes? Undoubtedly, you’ll still have a few of your own, but that is what makes your first cruising experience unforgettable.

You’ve got your cruise booked and are counting the days until you set sail. There are a few things for you to do before you even start to think about packing for your trip. Check with the cruise line to see what shots, if any, are needed for your trip. You’ll need to make a visit to your doctor to get current on any shots.

While you are at the doctor, inquire about tips on staying healthy and avoiding the flu or colds before you depart for your cruise. It is no fun having to travel sick or canceling entirely. Ask about seasickness remedies. Some of these medications are prescription only.

Refill on other prescription medications just in case they are scheduled to run out during the course of your trip. Often, insurance companies will make exceptions and allow a prescription to be refilled early if you are traveling with no access to a chain drug store. One last thing– get a note from your doctor on official letterhead listing your prescriptions and stating that they were all legally prescribed for you. A note will sometimes keep you from being detained while your medication is inspected if you have to go through customs.

Let the cruise line be aware of your dietary needs when you book your cruise if you are on a special kind of diet. Most diets are easily accommodated, but it is always better to be safe than sorry. A few weeks before you depart, check in with the cruise line again to review your reservations and special needs diet.

Pack a small emergency assistance kit for those “just in case” emergencies. Include antacids and anti-diarrhea medications for those episodes of “Montezuma’s Revenge” that seem to strike regardless of where you travel. Aspirin, antibiotic cream and aloe vera gel for sunburns also come in handy.

Stow away moisturizer, sunscreen and lip balm in your luggage too. You often tend to forget things like sunburn when you are having too much fun outdoors. Be sure to apply the sunscreen lotion before heading outside. Moisturizer and lip balm will help keep your skin soft. Sometimes the temperature change from cold air conditioning to the heat outside can damage the skin and dry it out.

Aside from the sunscreen, protect your skin by wearing sunglasses and hats. The sun’s reflection off the water can be quite bright when you are on the ship’s deck gazing at the waves. The sunglasses will protect you from harmful UV rays from the sun. Obviously, the hats will shield you from the sun’s rays and possible sunburn on your ears and face, two places that people sometimes forget to apply sunscreen lotion.

With the right preparation and precautions, you are well on your way to a happy and healthy first cruise. And when in doubt about something, ask your cruise line. They want to see to it that your cruising experience is trouble-free. Obviously they want you to sail with them again.